Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis' second-quarter touchdown reflected Hillis' strong performance against the Ravens on Sunday and the revival of the Browns' running game. That it didn't produce a victory was a shame, says Terry Pluto.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- If only the Browns could have found a way to win this game.

If only the Browns didn't blitz 7,000 guys on that game-winning 27-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin. If only T.J. Ward had hung on to that possible interception on the second play of the game -- because the Browns' rookie safety could have walked into the end zone for the touchdown.

If only Eric Wright could have stayed in the same ZIP code as Boldin (three TD catches). If only the Browns had decided to allow someone else to try to cover him -- how could it have been any worse?

When the Browns lose, 24-17, at Baltimore ...

When their record is 0-3 ...

When it seems like the schedule doesn't ease off until Christmas ...

Which brings me back to if only ...

If only the Browns had hung on to that 17-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, it would be easier for me to deliver this message -- namely, the Browns are a better team than a year ago. Yes, a better team than two weeks ago when they lost, 17-14, at Tampa Bay.

Some fans don't want to hear that. They want to hear that coach Eric Mangini has lost the team, that team President Mike Holmgren is going to swoop down during the bye week and make everything wonderful. Some fans are understandably frustrated by year after year . . . make that decade after decade . . . of losing.

But I remember sitting in this same M&T Bank Stadium a year ago after the Browns lost, 34-3, in their third game of the season.

I remember how the Browns lost four of their first eight games by at least 21 points. I remember when this team was a complete mess.

These Browns will never be confused with a good team, but this game showed they have character and they should get better over the course of the season.

They came into Baltimore without starters Jerome Harrison, Shaun Rogers, Jake Delhomme, Brian Robiskie and leading sack specialist Marcus Benard -- all out with injuries. Be honest, what did you think would happen in this, Baltimore's home opener?

I certainly didn't expect Peyton Hillis to play the part of a moose on a rampage with 144 yards in 22 carries. I didn't expect Seneca Wallace to complete 18 of 24 passes with no interceptions and to get sacked just twice. I didn't expect the Browns offensive line to return to its late 2009 form against the Ravens.

"We dominated up front," said Joshua Cribbs. "Our linemen were begging us to run the ball. I really didn't see Ray [linebacker Ray Lewis] or any of those guys. We were crushing people up front."

This game showed the beginning of a marriage between what fullback Lawrence Vickers called "smash-mouth football" and Holmgren's West Coast offense of short passes.

Hillis and Vickers supplied the grit and grunts, Wallace had the soft touch on his short passes.

The Browns had 173 yards rushing in 29 carries. That comes after 177 total yards in 49 carries in the first two games.

Yes, there were problems. Only one wide receiver (Cribbs, five receptions) caught a pass. Brian Robiskie was hurt, Mohamed Massaquoi had only one pass thrown his way. Chansi Stuckey had none.

Wallace was not supposed to throw a pitch to Hillis, and the play cost the Browns 17 yards -- backing them up to their own 3-yard line in the fourth quarter. The defense was helpless against Flacco and Boldin, unable to create a sack or a turnover.

"Too many mistakes," said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita. "I feel like this is the third game we gave away."

I promised myself not do another if only, but if only the Browns had played this way against Tampa Bay and Kansas City, they'd be 2-1.

In that 1-11 start last season, there were only moans from fans subjected to a team mostly unwatchable, rather than talking about some if onlys that could have changed the game.

Maybe they can learn commitment to the running game. Maybe they can re-examine why Wright has to stay on the hot receiver, when the defensive back is obviously cold. And maybe, just maybe, they can cut out a couple of dumb penalties that seemed to sabotage them at the worst moments.

A year ago, the Browns were outscored, 50-3, in their two games with Baltimore. So they are improving. They have not tuned out the coaches. They do still care. But they are still 0-3, and for some fans, that's all they'll notice.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.